Carpet-stretcher.



No. 7f6,904. Patentd Dec. 30, I902. .1. LAWSON. CARPET STRTGHER.

(Application filed Mar. 7, 1902.)

(No Modei.)

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UNITED STATES I PATENT. OFFICE.

JOHN LAWSON, OF MARKDALE, CANADA.

CARPET- -STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,904; dated December30, 1902. Application filed March 7,1902. Serial No. 97,055. (No man.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Lawson, a British subject, residing atMarkdale, in the county of Grey and Province of Ontario, Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Stretchers; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thatclass of carpetstretchers consisting of a carpet-stretching headactuated by a movable lever; and the object of the invention is to soconstruct the operative parts of the carpet-stretcher that they can bequickly actuated with a minimum of power to properly stretch the carpetand hold it until again freed from engagement therewith.

In carrying out the invention I employ a frame consisting of twoparallel side bars, to one end of which is rigidly secured a crossheadhaving on its under face aseries of carpetstretching teeth. Fulcrnmedbetween the parallel side bars is one end of an adj ustable brace havinga series of transverse holes to receive the fulcrum pin, which passesthrough the side bars and pivotally and adjustably connects the brace tothe frame. Connected to the side bars are two upwardlyprojecting lugs,between which is pivoted the operative lever, having an eccentric heador cam to engage the adjacent part of the brace to dist-end thecarpet-stretcher.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing thecarpet-stretcher in its preparatory or contracted position. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing it in its actuated or distended position. Fig. 3 isa sectional view through the brace. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of amodification of the brace.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and drawings.

The frame consists of two parallel side bars I) b anda head c,.to theunder side of which is secured a plate cl, having a series ofcarpet-stretching teeth 8. ,Fulcrumed between the parallel sidebars b bis the inner end f of an adjustable brace g. The inner end f of theadjustable brace g is provided with a series of transverse holes 71 toreceive the fulcrum-pin 'i, which passes through the parallel side bars19 h. The outer end Z of the'adjustable brace g is of a tubularformation, and contained in the outer end l is an extensionrod m,adapted to be locked in its adjusted position by a set-screw o. By meansof the extension-rod 'm and set-screw o the brace 9 can be lengthened orshortened to any extent within the range of the extension-rod.Projecting upwardly from the end a of the parallel side bars I) l) aretwo lugs 17, between which is pivoted the actuating-lever q, having aneccentric head or cam r arranged to engage the inner end or adjacentpart of the brace f.

The carpet-stretcher can be constructed of any suitable material havingthe requisite strength and rigidity, such as Wood or iron; but I prefer,however, for economy in manufacture to make the carpet-stretcher of woodand face the top of the inner endfof the brace g and the contacting faceof the eccentric head or cam r with metal, so that the constantengagement of the eccentric head or cam r with theadjacent end of thebrace will not cause these parts to wear one on the other to anyappreciable extent.

In order that the carpet-stretcher can be.

used in confined spaces, such as narrow hallways or rooms,I find itadvisable to make the brace g interchangeable with a brace of shorterlength, such as that shown in Fig. 4, which when fulcrumed in the framebarely projects beyond the ends of the parallel side bars.

In the use of the carpet-stretcher the parts are contracted into theposition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which it will be noticedthat the brace g and the frame are inclined into a suitably triangularshape to bring the carpet-stretcher teeth into as close proximity aspossible with the outer end of the brace, the lever being thrown back todisengage the eccentric head or cam from contact with the adjacent partof the brace. While the parts are in this position the carpet-stretcherteeth are inserted into the carpet, and the outer end of the brace isplaced against either a permanent or movable stop, such as a wall or thebody of the operator. By turning the lever into the position shown inFig. 2 of the drawings the braces and frame are straightened out intothe same alinement, moving the carpet-stretcher teeth to the full limitof their distance from the outer end of the brace. Thisstraightening-out movement on the part of the brace and frame enablesthe carpetstretcher teeth to stretch the carpet correspondingly. Whenthe parts are in their straightened-out position, the lever is locked bymeans of a chain 8, permanentlyconnected to the cross-head anddetachably connected to the end of the lever by means of a hook t.

I may vary the shape and size of the various parts and make them of anymaterial suitable for the purpose Without departing from the nature ofthe invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A carpet-stretcher, comprising a slotted frame, a cross-head carriedthereby and provided with teeth, an operating-brace adj ustably securedto the free end of said frame, a pin for making a hinge connectionbetween the free end of the frame and the brace, and an operating-leverfulcrumed out of line with the free end of the frame and having aneccentric head adapted to engage the extended end of the brace and holdthe brace in line with the frame. 4

2. Acarpet-stretcher, comprising a frame having two parallel side barsand a cross-head rigidly connected to one end of the parallel side barsprovided with teeth, lugs rigidly connected to the opposite end of theside bars, an operating-lever provided with an eccentrio head fulcrumedbetween said lugs, and a brace adjustably fulcrumed between the parallelside bars and adapted to be actuated by the operating-lever asspecified.

Markdale, February 20, 1902. JOHN LAWSON.

In presence of CHARLES PICKELL, WM. ZEADELIL.

